Sweet tooth puts men at risk of depression

Eating too much sugar could put men at greater risk of anxiety and depression.

Piling it on your cereal or into hot drinks seems to create a sugar low' in the long term, research shows. Scientists found that people who consumed more than 67 grams of sugar a day had a 23 per cent higher chance of mental illness than those taking fewer than 39.5 grams.

A 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola has around 49 grams of sugar.

It is unclear why the study found no link between sugar intake and mood disorders in women.

The study ruled out the possibility that the results can be explained by unhappy men comforting themselves with sugary treats.

High sugar diets have a number of influences on our health but our study shows that there might also be a link between sugar and mood disorders, particularly among men,' said Anika Knuppel, who led the study at University College London's institute of epidemiology and health.

There are numerous factors that influence chances for mood disorders, but having a diet high in sugary foods and drinks might be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

There is increasing evidence for the physical damage sugar has on our health. Our work suggests an additional mental health effect.'

The findings are based on data from Whitehall II, a major long-term investigation into physical and mental health problems encountered by civil servants.

Sugar consumption was compared with rates of common mental disorders in more than 5,000 men and 2,000 women between 1983 and 2013. The researchers speculated that excess sugar may increase depression by disrupting hormone levels or increasing inflammation in the brain, reducing hormones that maintain a positive mood.

Dr Knuppel said sweet food gave only a temporary lift.

Adults consume roughly double the recommended levels of added sugar, three quarters of which comes from sweet foods and drinks, said the researchers.

According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey published in 2013, the average man in the UK has a daily sugar intake of 68.4g.